For St. Patrick's Day, I wanted decor that went beyond just shamrocks and leprechauns.
What truly evokes the meaning of the holiday, at least here in the U.S.?
The answer lies typically in getting shit-faced and - as with practically every holiday - looking for an item that screams, 'Yes, this is the all-encompassing, immediately recognizable symbol of (fill-in-the-blank holiday)!'
So, I came to the conclusion that Guinness(esque) bottles and Shamrock Shake(esque) cups would make a fine garland.
What follows is my process:
I started out by making templates on graph-ruled index cards.
 |
| (c) 2017 Richard Buran |
Before I go full in on something like this, I'll produce some prototypes. This gives me a good idea of what the end product will look like, tell me where I need to make shape / proportion corrections and tell me whether I really want to make a dozen more of these things.
 |
| (c) 2017 Richard Buran |
From the prototype phase, I'll use the templates to cut all the necessary pieces from felt squares.
 |
| (c) 2017 Richard Buran |
 |
| (c) 2017 Richard Buran |
Then I do just about the worst hand-stitching anyone has ever seen. However, it does the job.
 |
| (c) 2017 Richard Buran |
 |
| (c) 2017 Richard Buran |
Moving on, I stuff all the sewn bottle and cups with fiber fill.
 |
| (c) 2017 Richard Buran |
 |
| (c) 2017 Richard Buran |
After hand-stitching all the bases closed, I add the embellishments - gold stickers, plastic drinking straws and felt shamrocks.
 |
| (c) 2017 Richard Buran |
 |
| (c) 2017 Richard Buran |
Finally, I thread a green twine through the backs of the bottles and cups to form the completed garland. Both the bottle and the cup (including the straw) measure 5" in height.
 |
| (c) 2017 Richard Buran |
One more thing: Should the two items depicted in the garland be consumed in tandem, they are sure to 'drive the snakes out of Ireland,' if you know what I mean.
A Happy St. Patrick's Day to all.
